Spire Motorsports Overview
Spire Motorsports is an American professional stock car racing team headquartered in Concord, North Carolina. Founded in 2018 by Jeff Dickerson and T. J. Puchyr as part of their Spire Sports + Entertainment agency, the organization competes in the NASCAR Cup Series, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, the ARCA Menards Series, and the ARCA Menards Series West. The team fields Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 entries in the Cup Series and Chevrolet Silverado entries in the Truck Series, with current car numbers including the No. 7, No. 71, and No. 77.
Since its debut at the 2019 Daytona 500, Spire Motorsports has grown from a single-car start-up into a multi-series operation with leadership from CEO Dan Towriss of TWG Motorsports, President Doug Duchardt, and co-founder Jeff Dickerson. The team is also connected to the broader TWG Global portfolio, which includes Andretti Global, Wayne Taylor Racing, and the Cadillac Formula 1 program, with co-owner Mark Walter.
Founding and Organizational Origins
Spire Motorsports was created in 2018 when Jeff Dickerson and T. J. Puchyr, both experienced sports and entertainment executives, decided to expand their Spire Sports + Entertainment agency into professional stock car racing. On December 4, 2018, the pair purchased an entry charter from the now-defunct Furniture Row Racing, guaranteeing the new team a guaranteed starting spot in the NASCAR Cup Series. The charter acquisition allowed Spire to enter Cup competition immediately for the 2019 season without having to qualify on a weekly basis.
Furniture Row Racing president Joe Garone moved to Spire in the same role, bringing experienced personnel to the new organization. The team announced that it would campaign the No. 77 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 as its flagship entry. The ownership group combined Dickerson and Puchyr’s sports management background with Towriss’s financial services experience, laying the groundwork for a data-driven, business-focused approach to team operations.
Growth Into NASCAR Cup Series Competition
Spire Motorsports began its NASCAR Cup Series journey at the 2019 Daytona 500 with the No. 77 car. In its first year of operation, the team shared a shop with Premium Motorsports as part of an alliance with owner Jay Robinson. Premium was sold to Rick Ware Racing in 2020, and Spire continued to operate from the Rick Ware Racing shop through the end of that season. The early years focused on building operational infrastructure, recruiting crew members, and developing race-day strategy with limited resources.
In August 2020, Spire acquired the assets of Leavine Family Racing, which allowed the team to expand to a two-car operation for the 2021 season. The organization moved its headquarters from Mooresville to the former AK Racing shop in Concord, North Carolina, providing more space for engineering and fabrication work. By 2023 and 2024, Spire made additional strategic acquisitions, including the Live Fast Motorsports charter and the assets of the Kyle Busch Motorsports Truck Series team, growing into a three-car Cup operation and a multi-truck Truck Series program.
Spire Motorsports Competitive Journey
Spire Motorsports’ racing progression has followed a steady upward path from a single-car charter startup to a multi-series Chevrolet operation. Across the Cup, Xfinity, Truck, ARCA Menards, and ARCA Menards West series, the team has recorded 11 race victories, 9 pole positions, and 333 race entries. While a Cup Series drivers’ championship has remained elusive, the organization has built a reputation for savvy charter transactions, driver development, and expanding competitive presence across national NASCAR series.
Early Seasons and Development (2019-2020)
The 2019 season began with a one-off Daytona 500 entry for Jamie McMurray in the No. 40 as a partnership with Chip Ganassi Racing. Quin Houff was the early primary driver of the No. 77, with Garrett Smithley, Reed Sorenson, and D. J. Kennington also making starts. In April 2019, Truck Series regular Justin Haley made his Cup debut with Spire at Talladega Superspeedway, beginning a long relationship between driver and team. On July 7, 2019, Haley delivered Spire its first Cup Series victory at the rain-shortened Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona in the team’s 18th start, though the win did not transfer playoff eligibility.
The 2020 season saw the team continue developing the No. 77 with a Chip Ganassi Racing partnership for Ross Chastain at the Daytona 500 and Coca-Cola 600. Off the track, the team’s preparation for a two-car expansion was finalized through the Leavine Family Racing purchase. In November 2019, the team was sanctioned by NASCAR after a race-manipulation incident at Homestead-Miami Speedway, resulting in a fifty-point deduction and a $50,000 fine for owner T. J. Puchyr. Despite the setback, the operation continued to build its infrastructure ahead of its 2021 expansion.
Breakthrough in the Cup Series (2021-2023)
The 2021 season marked a clear step forward when Corey LaJoie was announced as the driver of the No. 7, a number chosen to honor Alan Kulwicki and Geoff Bodine. LaJoie delivered a ninth-place finish at the 2021 Daytona 500. Justin Haley continued to drive the No. 77, posting top-ten results at Indianapolis and the Daytona night race. In October 2021, Spire announced it had secured a third charter, which was leased to Trackhouse Racing for the 2021 season, expanding the team’s footprint in the charter marketplace.
In 2022, Spire sold two of its charters to Kaulig Racing while continuing to field the No. 7 as a chartered entry, with Landon Cassill driving the No. 77 for most of the season. The 2023 campaign saw LaJoie post more consistent top-twenty and top-thirty finishes, and Carson Hocevar made his Cup Series debut as a substitute driver at Gateway. The organization also expanded into the NASCAR Xfinity Series, with Hocevar running a partial schedule in the No. 77. Off the track, the September 2023 purchase of Live Fast Motorsports and the agreement to acquire Kyle Busch Motorsports marked a transformative moment for the team’s long-term ambitions.
Breakthrough in the Truck Series (2022-2024)
Spire entered the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2022, announcing Kevin Manion as crew chief of the No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado. Austin Hill debuted the truck at Daytona, and William Byron delivered the team’s first Truck Series victory at Martinsville on April 7, 2022. Chase Elliott and Rajah Caruth also made starts that season, establishing a foundation for future growth.
The Truck program expanded rapidly in 2023 and 2024. In 2023, Kyle Larson won at North Wilkesboro Speedway. In 2024, Kyle Busch, who had sold his Truck operation to Spire, won at Atlanta and Texas in the No. 7. Chase Purdy drove the No. 77 full-time, while Rajah Caruth raced the No. 71 and scored a breakthrough victory at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, becoming only the second African-American driver to win a Truck Series race and the third to win a NASCAR national series event.
Modern Program and Current Direction (2025-Present)
The 2025 season reflects Spire’s most ambitious competitive structure to date. In the Cup Series, the team fields the No. 7 for Justin Haley, the No. 71 for Michael McDowell, and the No. 77 for Carson Hocevar. McDowell scored the organization’s first Cup Series pole position at the Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 15, 2025. Hocevar earned two career-best second-place finishes at Atlanta and Nashville and captured the 2024 NASCAR Rookie of the Year honors the previous season. The Truck Series operation has included entries for Kyle Busch, Kyle Larson, Justin Haley, Rajah Caruth, and others across the No. 7, No. 71, No. 77, and a temporary No. 07.
Doug Duchardt, formerly Chip Ganassi Racing’s chief operating officer, was named President of Spire Motorsports on December 4, 2023, bringing additional managerial experience to the leadership team. In November 2024, Matt McCall joined as director of vehicle performance and Dax Gerringer as technical director, while Rodney Childers was signed as crew chief for the No. 7 before departing in April 2025. Ryan Sparks returned as No. 7 crew chief and competition director. The organization also expanded into the ARCA Menards Series and ARCA Menards Series West with development driver Corey Day, the CARS Tour with Tristan McKee, and the Trans-Am Series with McKee in the TA2 class.
Philosophy and Competitive Strengths
Spire Motorsports has built its identity around strategic growth, charter investment, and targeted driver development. The team has consistently used the charter marketplace as both a financial tool and a competitive lever, acquiring charters from Furniture Row Racing, Leavine Family Racing, Rick Ware Racing, and Live Fast Motorsports while divesting others to Kaulig Racing and Trackhouse Racing. On track, Spire’s strengths have emerged in superspeedway racing and underdog Cup performances, with Justin Haley’s 2019 Daytona win and Carson Hocevar’s 2024 Rookie of the Year campaign serving as signature achievements.
Key Milestones and Major Moments
Major milestones include the December 2018 charter purchase from Furniture Row Racing, the July 2019 Coke Zero Sugar 400 victory, the 2020 Leavine Family Racing acquisition, the 2023 purchases of Live Fast Motorsports and Kyle Busch Motorsports, Rajah Caruth’s 2024 Las Vegas Truck Series win, McDowell’s 2025 Cup pole at Las Vegas, and the integration of Spire into the TWG Motorsports portfolio alongside Andretti Global, Wayne Taylor Racing, and Cadillac Formula 1.
Spire Motorsports Achievements and Results
Spire Motorsports has compiled 11 race victories across national and regional series, 9 pole positions, and 333 race entries since its 2019 debut. The team has yet to capture a drivers’ championship at the Cup, Xfinity, Truck, ARCA, or ARCA West level, but it has produced landmark moments, including a Cup Series win at Daytona, multiple Truck Series victories with major names, and developmental breakthroughs that have elevated its standing within the NASCAR garage.
NASCAR Cup Series Achievements
Spire Motorsports has recorded 1 Cup Series victory, 3 pole positions, and 252 race entries since 2019. The organization’s first and only Cup win came at the rain-shortened 2019 Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona with Justin Haley. Michael McDowell scored the team’s first Cup pole position at the 2025 Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and Carson Hocevar qualified on the front row at Darlington in 2024. The team expanded to a three-car operation in 2024 with the addition of a third charter.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Achievements
Spire Motorsports has earned 9 Truck Series wins, 6 pole positions, and 70 race entries since its 2022 debut. Standout victories include William Byron’s first Truck win for the team at Martinsville in 2022, Kyle Larson’s win at North Wilkesboro in 2023, Kyle Busch’s wins at Atlanta and Texas in 2024, and Busch and Carson Hocevar’s victories in 2025. Rajah Caruth’s Las Vegas win in 2024 was a historic milestone as only the second Truck Series win by an African-American driver.
ARCA and ARCA West Achievements
Spire Motorsports recorded 1 ARCA Menards Series victory and 4 race entries, along with 3 ARCA Menards Series West entries. The organization entered both ARCA series in 2025 through development efforts with Corey Day and Tristan McKee, with McKee scoring an additional victory in the CARS Tour Pro Late Model division at All American Speedway and winning the TA2 class at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and Watkins Glen International in the Trans-Am Series.